Riding on the open road. The wind in your face. No doubt about it a motorcycle is just cool. However, there is a lot more to motorcycle ownership than just looking cool as your ride down the road. Understanding the risks and responsibilities of bike ownership is crucial to making the most of your bike. 

Safety

it is the reasonability of the owner of the bike to know how to operate the bike safely. Driving a motorcycle is nothing like driving a car. Just because you can drive a car does not mean you will be great at driving a bike. In order to learn the best safety practices when driving your bike, it would be in your best interest to take a motorcycle safety course. This will give you the chance to learn everything you need to know from a professional. 

Risks

If you choose to own and drive a motorcycle then you should also understand the risks involved with that ownership. There are an entirely different set of risks involved in driving a motorcycle than there are in driving a car. Never assume you know everything. Learning about the risks involved is the best way to avoid those risks. You should understand the dangers of driving in certain types of weather as well as in certain types of areas. You should also learn how to interact appropriately with the motorists around you on the road. 

If you have recently purchased a motorcycle or are considering purchasing one, take the time to find a quality motorcycle safety course or driving course in your area. Learning how to drive and operate your new bike from a professional will go a long way in preventing problems in the future. If you would like to learn more about bike ownership and bike insurance contact Martin Insurance Team serving Evergreen Park, IL. 

Thinking about what would happen if you pass unexpectedly and leave your family is almost unbearable. Thinking about what would happen if you passed and didn’t plan anything to leave for your family is even worse. This is a very hard topic to think about, but that’s exactly why you do need to think about life insurance. Serving Evergreen Park, IL, Martin Insurance Team is here for you during all of life’s milestones, good and bad. If you plan for the worst, you might be able to make it just a little more bearable. Following are just some of the risks you take if you forego life insurance.

The most apparent risk of going without life insurance is not leaving anything to provide for your family, especially if you are the main income earner for your household. However, another monetary aspect people don’t often think about is their debt. When you die, your debt doesn’t just magically go away. Without life insurance, you risk passing your debt on to your loved ones.

If you don’t have life insurance now, you also risk paying more later. Generally, the younger and healthier you are, the lower your premiums are going to be. If you wait until you’re older and potentially develop health conditions, you’re going to end up paying more. The benefits of having life insurance are much more than just leaving money for your loved ones, so the sooner you take out a policy, the sooner you can enjoy those benefits.  

Martin Insurance Team is here to help anyone in Evergreen Park, IL and the surrounding area plan for the future with life insurance; get in touch with us today!

While hosting guests in your living space, their safety should be a priority. Home accidents can be fatal and often result in huge medical bills. Also, your guests will be more comfortable if they feel safe in your living space.  As such, it is vital to take some considered measures to guarantee their safety and comfort.  Here are some useful tips to keep guests safe in your Evergreen Park, IL home:-

Ensure toy safety
If some of your guests have children, ensure that they are playing with toys of the recommended ages. In most cases, this will be mentioned on the label. Toys and their parts pose a serious health hazard especially if they are too small to fit into the child’s mouth as the child could choke on it. Dispose of broken toys or repair them. If a broken toy has a harp edge, it could harm the children as they are playing. 

Observe food safety measures
Food-related ailments are quite popular. Washing your hands thoroughly before, during and after preparing food for your guests reduces the chances of bacterial contamination. Refrigerate any leftovers within two hours after preparing it as leaving it out too long could lead to contamination. 

Insure your home
In as much as you have observed every safety measure in the group, accidents still do happen. Having your home insured will ensure that you are covered for any medical bills should guests get injured within your property. Further, should they sue you for such an incident, the insurance company will compensate you. Any damaged property is also covered under a home insurance policy. A home insurance coverage also has a liability coverage option that pays to represent you in court if you are sued after an accident. 

The Martin Insurance Team is ready to discuss your Evergreen Park, IL home insurance requirements and options. Get in touch with us today for a free estimate of your home insurance policy. 
 

If you own a business in Evergreen Park, IL, one of the essential insurance coverages you need to get is disability insurance. This policy pays part or all of the employee’s salary if the employee has become disabled or isn’t capable of doing their job after work-related injuries or illnesses.

In most cases, disabilities come from on the job injuries or accidents, including other debilitating illnesses like a heart attack or cancer. The coverage can pay disabled workers the income they lose as they recover from an injury or disease. At Martin Insurance Team, we can provide disability insurance designed to suit your business needs.

Reasons to get a disability insurance plan

Unlike the social security disability that protects employees after attaining a certain age and restricted at a maximum monthly payout no matter what the worker’s income was, a private disability insurance covers approximately 70% of an employee’s salary at any age in case a disability arises.

This coverage can cover workers through their companies, but most employees have limited coverage or no coverage at all. Such people can get private disability insurance in order to protect their earnings and provide for the family should an illness or an injury occur at work and prevent them from working.

Types of disability insurance

Private disability is a type of disability insurance that comes in the form of a long-term or short-term disability insurance package. A short-term policy usually covers the disabling illness or injuries for up to 6 months while a long-term one covers the worker’s salary throughout their lifetime if necessary. Some insurers also offer additional options and protections like guaranteed renewal, cost of living adjustment, and refunding of certain premium payments in case an employee doesn’t become disabled within a stated time.

For more details on your disability insurance options in Evergreen Park, IL, contact Martin Insurance Team today.

At Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL we typically advise our clients to have motorcycle insurance in place, even when it is not required. Damage can happen to your bike and there are many situations when repair or even replacement are necessary. In addition to coverage for the bike itself, we are often asked about policies that include coverage for any injuries that could befall your passenger. In most situations, we find that having coverage in place for your passengers can provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are protected in the event of a mishap.

Comprehensive Coverage for Your Motorcycle Passengers

When you take a passenger with you for a ride on the back of your motorcycle, you can be held liable for them in certain instances. By having a comprehensive policy that includes your passengers, you are protecting both them and yourself. Mishaps can happen when riding on a bike, and medical attention may be required in many situations. If you are looking for a policy that covers you in the event of injury as well as your passengers, we can help. Motorcycle insurance should cover your bike and any damage that it receives, but in many cases, this type of base insurance policy is not enough. Do not leave yourself open to liability issues if you are involved in an accident that harms your passenger. There are a number of policy options available for you to review with our agents.

Call or Stop By Today to Learn More About Your Coverage Options 

Comprehensive coverage for motorcycle enthusiasts is always worth discussing. Call the Martin Insurance Team today to learn more about your motorcycle policy options for your passengers here in Evergreen Park, IL.

When most of us think about estate planning the things that come to mind are wills, living trusts, estate taxes, and so forth. However, life insurance can be a very important part of estate planning. One of the main advantages of life insurance is that the proceeds received by the beneficiaries are usually not taxable. Taxes can be avoided except under special circumstances, such as when a beneficiary is not named or the life insurance proceeds are specifically allocated to the estate for a particular purpose.

Another possible benefit of having life insurance in estate planning is, when the estate is structured properly, the beneficiaries can receive insurance proceeds immediately and directly, avoiding probate, and these proceeds are not available to pay off the creditors of the deceased.

Your agent at the Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL and the surrounding areas, is ready to explain the myriad of ways that life insurance is a valuable tool in estate planning and wealth management.

Life insurance proceeds serve many valuable and desirable functions in estate planning. The proceeds can support beneficiaries, cover the cost of sending heirs to school, be allocated to help pay for estate taxes, and provide funding for sudden death buy/sell agreements in businesses partially owned by the deceased. Life insurance proceeds can also be allocated to charitable efforts and for the funding of private foundations to leave a legacy. There are so many ways life insurance plays an important role in estate planning.

Conclusion

Estate planning is becoming an important consideration for more Americans as many are now becoming older adults. Talk to your attorney in order to understand the legal ramifications of using life insurance in estate planning and wealth management. Consult with your agent at Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL to get professional advice about the life insurance that meets your needs and goals.

Motorcycles are fairly popular in Illinois, with over 300,000 people owning them in the Garden State according to the Department of Transportation. So if you live in Evergreen Park, IL or surrounding areas, you may already be well used to seeing them. But since Illinois tends to have stricter driving laws than other states in general, just how old does one have to be to ride a motorcycle? Martin Insurance Team has the answer. 

The Basic Requirements

Technically speaking, a person has to be at least 17 years old age in order to legally ride a motorcycle in Illinois. That said, those who are under the age of 18 will need a parent or legal guardian’s signed consent to apply for a motorcycle permit. A successful vision test, proof of residency, $5 fee and successful passing of the written motorcycle knowledge test is required for everyone to get a motorcycle permit, also referred to as a "learner’s permit". Those under the age of 18 are also required to enroll in a basic rider course. When it comes to getting an actual motorcycle license, those under 21 will have to hold their permit for at least six months before taking and passing a road test. For those over 21, the holding period is three months. 

What if I’m From Out of State and Already Have a Motorcycle License?

Since age laws for riding motorcycles vary by state, it is very possible that you could be new to the Evergreen Park, IL area (or the state in general) and have a license from a different state despite being underage in Illinois. In this case, you can simply transfer the license credentials by visiting the Illinois Motor Vehicle Commission within 60 days of moving (or before your license expires, whichever comes sooner) and pay the applicable fees. Please feel free to contact Martin Insurance Team to learn more. 

When it comes to taking care of your family, you are likely relying heavily on your income. This is something that is completely normal in Evergreen Park, IL. However, something that many people do not like to talk about is what can happen if you can no longer work to support yourself. It is a scary thought but it can become less scary if you have disability insurance from Martin Insurance Team. Having disability insurance can help you when you can’t work due to a disability and that is just one reason to consider getting the coverage. 

• It is inexpensive. Disability insurance is a great policy not only because of what it can provide you if you are disabled but it is also not a lot of money to get a policy. And think about the value of it: if you can spend less a little bit now for a good chunk of money when you are disabled, the result is definitely getting the coverage. 
• It will be harder to get it if you already need it. One of the things about disability insurance is that it can be very difficult to obtain if you are already in need of disability insurance. It will also be more expensive. If you want to best protect yourself, you should get the coverage now before you ever need it or think you may need it. 

As you can see, disability coverage is something that would provide you with the great benefit if you were to have it. If you are not sure about the coverage or what you should get, be sure to reach out to us here at Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, today. We will help you explore options and will even provide you with a free quote for coverage. 

Traveling the world on a motorcycle can be an experience like no other. To get the most out of your traveling and to take in the most spectacular views, it’s suggested to skip the tourist route and hit the open road. There are many destinations that are built for two-wheeled enthusiasts. Here are a few you don’t want to miss out on while traveling.

 

Traveling on a motorcycle is a cheap and fun way to explore this beautiful world. Adventure is just around the corner, so get out there and discover. And don’t forget that one of the best ways to make sure you keep yourself and your motorcycle protected while enjoying the open road is with motorcycle insurance. Not only can this type of insurance be of the utmost value in helping cover medical expenses in the event that you were injured during a motorcycle accident, but it can also help protect against theft of your bike. If you would like more information on motorcycle insurance, please contact Martin Insurance Team today serving the area of Evergreen Park, IL.

As you transition into retirement, you may have less financial obligations and money for insuring yourself and your family. This is the reason you should consider a tax free retirement plan. Since you may have children who can support themselves, it’s easy to get uninterested in your retirement insurance. Perhaps your housing costs have reduced because you’re downsizing. However, there are some expenses that may increase, for instance, healthcare.

Tax-free retirement insurance plans from insurers such as Martin Insurance Team in Evergreen Park, IL can help you live a more comfortable life during retirement. This can only be achieved by arranging and planning the finances early enough and getting the right insurance coverage. Below are benefits of tax-free retirement insurance.

Safeguard assets and property

If you don’t have a retirement plan, you may be tempted or compelled to liquidate your assets to support your retirement lifestyle or your family during emergencies. When you build a retirement fund, it will be easier to safeguard your assets and property and pass the legacy on to your children and grandchildren.

Handle transitions easily

Life comes with many changes that may require immediate execution in constricted time frames. If you have a retirement plan, it will be easier for you to accommodate these changes even at your old age.

Plan for unforeseen costs

Sometimes, situations may arise and force you to spend a lot of money like additional medical bills or your family’s unexpected financial needs. When you plan for retirement, the savings you build will serve as a safety net in times of need or during unpredictable situations.

Benefit from returns on reinvestment

Ideally, retirement planning begins when you start earning. This helps you set aside certain affordable amounts of money for a long period, helping you gain from the compounding effect. This is the reason people are encouraged to plan for retirement early enough.

If you reside in Evergreen Park, IL, you can contact Martin Insurance Team for more information on retirement insurance.